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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Weathering Scientific Name Anisoptera cochinchinensis Trade Name Mersawa Family Name Dipterocarpaceae Common Names Basoeng, Kaunghmu, Mersawa, Palosapis, Pengiran, Phdiek, Ven ven Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam Common Uses Balusters, Beams, Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Canoes, Casks, Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Excelsior, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Handles, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Lifeboats, Light construction, Moldings, Novelties, Packing cases, Parquet flooring, Planks, Plywood, Porch columns, Rough construction, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Tool handles, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Generally secure within its natural habitat Distribution Overview This species is known to be in Cambodia, typically in multi-storey forests consisting of more than 80% of evergreen species The main characteristic species of these forests are Dipterocarpus dyeri. D. corbatus. D. Alatus. Anisoptera cochinchinensis, Hopea adorata, H. pierrei, Roherea vulgaris, and Syzygium spp. Species in the Anisoptera genus are found throughout the Malaysis region. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Light buff to yellowish brown Darkens slightly upon exposure Sapwood Color Yellow Pale yellow Not always clearly demarcated from heartwood Discoloration from sap-stain fungal infection may abnormally define sapwood from heartwood Normal width is about 2 inches (5 cm) Grain Crossed Interlocked Spiral Spiral grain occasionally Moderately to severely interlocked Texture Even or uniform Uniform Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Even textured Luster Low Non-lustrous Dull Natural Growth Defects Piped heart is occasionally present in large logs Natural Durability Moderately durable Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to termite attack Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers Moderately durable Weathering Good Odor Has an odor No specific taste Distinctive resinous odor Silica Content High Siliceous Likely to have significant impact on machining Contains high levels of silica (> 0.5% of dry weight) Kiln Schedules T6-D4(4/4);T3-D1(8/4) US Schedule E; United Kingdom Care is needed to accurately measure moisture content for kilning Drying Defects Uneven Moisture Content Checking Distortion Wet pockets may also cause uneven variations in drying rate Susceptible to sap-stain during air-drying Slight warping and checking may occur during drying Ease of Drying Slowly Fairly Easy Dries slowly from the green conditin without severe degrade Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 50-60 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments Retards the setting of cement and should not be used for shuttering concrete Blunting Effect High to severe Capable of dulling cutting edges rapidly and severely, depending upon silica amount Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Fairly difficult to saw The timber is fairly difficult to saw, especially when interlocked grain is present. Gluing Fair to Good Results Glues well Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very sharp cutting edges are required to produce a smooth surface Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Retains shape well after seasoning Good dimensional stability and shows little movement in use Nailing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good nailing characteristics Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended for best results Planes fairly cleanly Dulls cutting edges rapidly due to silica content Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistance to preservative treatment varied from moderate to very resistant Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to work with hand tools except when interlocked grain is present Dulls cutting edges rapidly due to silica content Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Responds well to sanding operations Produces clean surfaces Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Holds screws well Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor steam bending characteristics Polishing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good finishing characteristics Fairly good polishing characteristics Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Stains satisfactorily after surface preparation Strength Properties High in density Heavy Crushing strength = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high It compares favorably with Teak, which also has high bending strength. Teak, White oak, and Hard maple have high crushing strength Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7389 11226 psi Density 39 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 3695 6537 psi Shearing Strength 1662 psi Stiffness 1293 1520 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.51 0.52 Weight 38 31. lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 14 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 519 789 kg/cm2 Density 624 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 259 459 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 116 kg/cm2 Stiffness 90 106 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.51 0.52 Weight 608 496. kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Eddowes, P. J. 1961. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea: Their Properties and Uses. Office of Forests, Papua New Guinea. HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1 Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.